HPX in Atlanta

[davhud]

Just in case anyone's interested we've got a 500 package in the Atlanta area that can go out on rental when it's not working on my own productions.

HPX 500
4 16 gig cards
fuji 17/ 2x lens
Sachtler SB12 sticks
Marshall 7 inch HD monitor with arm

Sorry no matte box or follow focus yet.

What I've shot so far looks really fab. In camera slow mo is the ticket!

[EditingFX]

Who'd you buy from? How long did it take to get your kit? Any reason for the Fuji over Canon? Thanks!!

[davhud]

Got it from WH Platts. Took about 2-3 weeks total. The lens was in short supply. They loaned me a lens over the first weekend had the camera so props to them. Nice folks if you're in the area I'd recommend them.

No particular reason for the Fuji over the Canon. I've shot with both for years. To my eye there isn't much difference. I demoed the Fuji and it was available so there you have it.

I do remember in the old film days manufacturers would send out three or four lenses for you try and then you'd send back the ones that didn't measure up.
Guess I'm giving away my age with that!

None of these lenses measure up to the true 35mm film zoom lenses like a Panavision or a Cooke but when you consider the price I think they're amazing.

Used a Cooke 10-100 zoom on some 35 shoots a few years back. Now that was a piece of glass! Front element like a dinner plate and weighed 20 lbs!

[EditingFX]

Thanks for the info... also ATL here, been talking to WH, was curious if other vendors were in same short supply they told me about. Thinking about the Fuji myself, if for no other reason than the "shot box button" dingus, assuming all else equal. Think I'll go with a Cavision mattebox instead of Chroziel (bit cheaper).
Any opinions of Cavision's wide adapter glass? I'm sure it's a case of you get what you pay for (about $700), just worried it might be throwing $$ away.
How's your workflow.... happy with the new... (yeah, I'll say it).... paradigm?

[davhud]

Don't really know about the wide angle adapter although I've not been a fan of add on adaptors over the years. I'm also not sure how the CAC lenses will work with a separate piece of glass as they're designed to work with the Panny electrics.

As far as the work flow goes I feel that Panasonic should give away Raylight with every camera! Avid and Final cut are the only software systems I know that can handle mxf right out of the box and apple does it with a quicktime wrapper.

Mostly it's been smooth. I've gone out to my regular clients and spent an hour or so making sure they understand the the drill. Repeat over and over your hard drive is your master! Once they understand that they seem to get behind it.

From my own end HD production requires much more planning and aforethought than SD to keep from digging yourself a very deep hole later in the production.

Archiving can be a pain. I think for now leaving it on harddrives is the best solution. Preferably 2 if you can afford it. I think they'll be around for a while.

It's a new world out there and who knows what the hd landscape will look like in a few years. 1 tera byte cards would be nice at about 20 bucks a pop!

[JohnT]

Hey Davhud,
Where in Atlanta could I see your 500? I work in the Midtown area and would be interested. We do have a RR follow focus and a Bartek wireless FF. I also have a RR HD lens adaptor if you are interested in checking it out to see if it will work with the 500. I think the relay lens will be a issue though.

[EditingFX]

Valid point about CAC w/ adapter. From what I've learned, it looks like a LTO tape drive (enterprise-level archive) could be the way to go for long-term shelf archives. Huge storage, proven reliability, cheap media.

[davhud]

I'm in Druid Hills. Just give me call at 404-929-9985.

[dregenthal]

. . . As far as the work flow goes I feel that Panasonic should give away Raylight with every camera! Avid and Final cut are the only software systems I know that can handle mxf right out of the box and apple does it with a quicktime wrapper.

I agree--RayLight is a valuble tool. Maybe they should include a free Cooke lens!!! (kidding).

You may want to try the Edius Broadcast (free trial download) . . . handles MXF files like butter.

[Howard Gibson]

Hello,

I am new to this blog....I am shooting a indy film next month in Atlanta for 23 days starting September 4th or there about, and am very interested in seeing footage from the HPX 500. Was wondering if a demo can be arranged? Been thinking about shooting with the HPX with a set of DigiPrimes, verses the HVX 200 with M2 and Nikon lenses.
I am in the Castelberry Lofts District, downtown Atlanta.

[davhud]

Sure Howard. Just call me at the above number. No digiprimes but you can see the basic package.

[davhud]

BTW I'm on shoot today so if you don't get me just leave your number.

[davhud]

Any of you folks still interested in having a look at camera?

[EditingFX]

Oh yeah! Left a message on VM.